Contributed by: AnchorsAnchors(others by this writer | submit your own)Published on October 18th 2005Does anyone here really know what it is to have the massive expectations for an upcoming album? Thrice sure does. The scrutiny thrust on them to write another solid album after three already great ones is a lot to bear. They are an extremely talented foursome, however, and according to singer Dustin.

Does anyone here really know what it is to have the massive expectations for an upcoming album? Thrice sure does. The scrutiny thrust on them to write another solid album after three already great ones is a lot to bear. They are an extremely talented foursome, however, and according to singer Dustin Kensrue, Vheissu is by far their most ambitious effort to date.

In a genre criticized for the lack of diversity and artistic merit, Thrice have stood out as the one band not willing to compromise talent or ideas to write a record to "cash in quick." They had an impressive debut, avoided the sophomore slump, and continued that forward momentum with an album well received by fans and critics alike, The Artist in the Ambulance. So where does that leave Vhiessu? Where it would be easy to undergo an identity crisis, the band forges ahead with their strongest and most varied effort to date, and everyone is going to want to take notice.

"The Image of the Invisible" starts the album in much the similar fashion as Thrice has been known for, heavy, but maintaining that melodic edge without sounding contrived. It's the kind of song that would perfectly find a home on The Artist in the Ambulance, but oddly, very few tracks on this effort fit that oh so similar profile. That's what Thrice has managed to do so well here: Progress, without alienating any of the fans made along the way. They've taken on a far more atmospheric and groove-driven sound, and are much more prone to experiment with different styles and sounds than on previous efforts. When they do deviate, it's a testament to their growth as musicians and bandmates; one listen to "The Earth Will Shake" seals that deal. It's songs like this that exemplify the double-edged sword analogy, as while it will most definitely garner them respect for the ability to evolve, a lot of the old fans might not appreciate the direction.

We dream the ways to break these, iron bars.

Fitting words for a fitting progression. The beginning of the song has a real old blues feel to it in the vocals and production sound, like it was recorded a cappella by Dustin singing in a bar. That sound also comes back halfway though the song, before Dustin's familiar scream explodes in a giant roar with the thunderous guitars of Teppei Teranishi and Dustin himself coming into play, making the song a very aptly named one. There's also some eerie organ inclusion to further add to the atmosphere the band is working so hard to create. Organ isn't so outlandish, or out there for Thrice, though, so how about a real mellow song with some choice use of the vibraphone? "Atlantic" has a very low, haunting feel that's only heightened by Kensrue's vocals and the vibraphone. "For Miles" is another very low-key, mellow track that doesn't let loose until the very end, where both guitarists have ample opportunity to shred. That's something immediately noticeable on this album, is that the speed of previous Thrice efforts has been forgone for power and melody. The guitars are as loud as ever, but the pace is such that doesn't ever give time for pointless solos that may have previously existed. After the piano intro, "Like Moths to a Flame" does some heavy channeling of Isis, and they channel them well. There's a lot more singing than you'd ever find Isis having anything to do with, but if it works, don't knock it.

It's by that time most will have decided whether they like the new direction or not. And inevitably, some won't. Those who continue to listen will continue to be rewarded. The powerful "Stand and Feel Your Worth" is one of the best songs Thrice has ever written, and it shows how rewarding patience can be. In sounds that mirror Jason Gleason, formerly of Further Seems Forever, Kensrue effortlessly glides through the song as it builds into a crescendo, culminating with the guttural screams fans of Thrice are used to. Is that a new song formula? Definitely not. Is it done with expert precision? Absolutely. As has been mentioned, Thrice is no longer about speed, or even power, but the atmosphere each song gives off.

There are people that will be put off by this because the whole album doesn't sound like "The Image of the Invisible," and that's fine; those aren't the people the band wants to listen, anyhow. I'm not going to sit here and talk about this being groundbreaking; it's not, but the road Thrice has turned down is one surely lined with gold. They've pushed themselves that extra mile down the path to create something special, something people will remember, and this record perfectly illustrates that.

I don't know if I'll be listening to Vhiessu in two months, but while it's in my CD drive, it's making quite an impression.

The finest release from Thrice, my CD must have become warped by me playing it all the time. This is where Thrice reached their loftiest heights, only to have to come back down with each subsequent release.

The rest of the CD is pretty amazing though. For Miles is easily my favorite Thrice song, up there with Deadbolt and To Awake and Avenge the Dead.

Amazing band, amazing album.

Anonymous (March 2, 2006)

I appreciate every song on this album. The album is unlike anything I've heard in a while. It's different and damn well enjoyable. I love the emotion, the creativity, and the atmosphere it puts on the listener. It almost seems like it came from a different world when I listen to this album.

a great album not as gd as their earlier productions but certainly well worth a listen music box iss a beautiful song it almost moves me to tears

Anonymous (February 7, 2006)

Ive been a Thrice fan since '99, yes they changed there sounds...but i think every cd thrice had ever put out has changed from punk/ to thrashy metal/ to harder stuff/ to something grown up such as Vheissu...u cant expect a band like thrice to stick with the same shit over and over...it be cheating the fans, and at the same time not progressing as a band......If u want a band that sounds the same...listen to Hawthorne Heights..... thrice itsn't for you......

I don't speak English yet (I'm a little Belgian Girl, 13) so maybe you don't understand what I'm writing, but so what... I tr! :) For all of you that didn't like the Cd: okay, the other three were better, but this one is also quite good! It's much better than this Belgian shit, so Thrice, go on! I LOVE the lyrics! Just don't become a commercial band like Greenday or ....

Overall solid cd, very well written, but just not the old Thrice. Not my genre of music that's for sure.

Anonymous (December 27, 2005)

God damnit Thrice your the best band ever and you go and fuck it all up with Vheissu. Go back to how you used to play with Identity Crisis and stuff. You had the three best cds ever and you fuck it all up with Vheissu. Fuck you and go back to how you were you fucking retards

No wonder the review writer's name isn't mentioned...terrible writing.

P.S. People that really appreciate music and understand the subtle complexities and growth of a band probably like Thrice. Otherwise, go listen to the other carbon copies in the digital wasteland that is this generation's music.

goddamnit you fucking uneducated punk american hicks.
they're=they are (it's an abbreviation)
their - "let's steal THEIR bike"
there - "look THERE to see how much thrice's new album fucking blows"
very easy. figure it out.

Anonymous (November 27, 2005)

the people who dont like this album are the kids that only heard deadbolt and phoenix ignition and thought thrice were "ill"

Anonymous (November 18, 2005)

Im highly disappointed. While this album does server some wonder melodic attributes, it lacks the energy their previous albums. While some people want a band to not release the same stuff album, I think this was too much of a dramatic change, way too fast. It went from hardcore to....well...not so hardcore. I do, however, like the first song, but the rest is just energy lacking junk to me, and the only reason I listen to music is to make me pumped. This stuff seems to be in a bad/sad mood and really brings me down. I think Ill go back to listening to their previous albums.

Anonymous (November 18, 2005)

this is fucking harsh...its not about the label..or genre......or religion...its about the music..i think it displays amazing talent and definitly worth the 15$ to buy....i started listening to thrice when TAITA camoe out, but i later listened to there older records too.. i found they all are different and have there own quialities... with Vheissu, i found it is more about progresssion than there other albums...i think they are not out to sell out, but to prove what they can do musically. I think thrice is one of those bands you can stick by and never be dissapointed

gnu_42@hotmail.com

id live to hear your oppinions on the record....not if they sold out or not

Anonymous (November 15, 2005)

you're all idiots.

Anonymous (November 9, 2005)

first thrice album i've gotten, so i wasn't expecting anything, hardcore or otherwise. very impressed. if i wanted a heavy album i'd definitely go pwd or prom queen, but for an album that's musically deep even at the sake of volume, vheissu is one of the best i've heard.
'the earth will shake' is fuckin awesome, great lyrics.

Holy shit this album is fucking terrible! Not in a non-talented kind of way, it's just incredibly boring and lifeless. Thrice can do so much better than this.

Anonymous (November 7, 2005)

This album took a while to grow on me. I was expecting the same old Thrice, which don't get me wrong is not a bad thing. At first I was dissapointed thinking it lacked all pace and aggression.

However on the third time through I realised that this album is more diverse and experimental than their previous releases. I think it really shows off their talent as a band and makes them stand out from most other emo/screamo bands around today.

That said there are still a couple of weak tracks as is the case in most albums these days. But to those of you who didn't like it I suggest that you try listening it through 2 or 3 more times and it you may fully appreciate this album for what its worth.

-Grub-

Anonymous (October 31, 2005)

When i first heard the artist in the ambulance i thought it sucked. But within a week it became my favorite album of all time. the heaviness became more subtle in the artist.... than in illusion of safety but at times even more powerful, its the same in vheissu... the aggression is even more subtle and perhaps more abstract but its there and at times as a sharper edge.... Listen to it, the effort you put into the music is shot back at you like a bullet. Thrice won't ever fade, period.

Anonymous (October 31, 2005)

Please go back to how you were in your next cd. Vheissu just dosnt sound like Thrice.

Anonymous (October 30, 2005)

To the retard that said he would rather eat his own fart than listen to Thrice again, buy Illusions of Safty, Artist in the Ambulence and Identity Crisis. Listen to them. Those cds are the best ever made.

Anonymous (October 30, 2005)

I was expecting another great cd by Thrice, and while Vheissu is still a good cd, it isn't nearly as good as Identity Crisis, Illusion of Safty or Artist in the Ambulence. In all of the songs except for Image of the Invisible and Hold Fast Hope it lacks the great skreaming that Thice has in almost all of their songs. And in all of the songs it lacks the incredibly great guitar rythems you hear in all other of their songs. But don't let this stop you from buying the cd, its still good. Thrice has just been giving us great cds for the past half decade or so, so that makes this cd look bad. It's just not as good.

Anonymous (October 27, 2005)

for all those who don't like the new cd
you all want something that is the same and or all ready done they didn't do that and that show a band is evolving into something more than a copy of someone else or who they were i will agree i didnt like the new disc at first because it wasn't what i expected but know after listing to it numerous times i cant believe i didnt liked it it is hand down thrice's best disc

Anonymous (October 26, 2005)

don't fear change
Thrice keep it up.............MOST 'punk' bands wish they could be on Island or a major, if they say otherwise, it's a front. Fugazi and NOFX excluded.

Anonymous (October 24, 2005)

Have any of you out there heard a genre that just gets beaten into the ground? I listened to a lot of punk 6 or 7 years ago, but I noticed something...not much variation. most of the songs had the same ol' fast drum beat of "boom tat boom boom tat" That is just one example

Scary enough, I'm starting to pick the same vibe up with hardcore/metal/screamo now.

I think this is why thrice realized that they had to use thier musical talent and branch out, or just be a another milestone on the path. If you have the ear, you will realize that the thrice you love is still there. you just have to realize that it isn't all about the shreding metal riffs anymore. They've come to rely on other sources to make their music.

Not that experimentation makes a band good. However, Thrice's experimentation led them to a much higher ground than most other bands out there that mold themselves to genre and tweak a thing here or there and call it completely original. Thrice is truly original because they have cut off the genre they have been tacked to, and still managed to make incredible music.

I feel sorry for those who just look for that music that is simply a repeat of what has already been done.

Anonymous (October 24, 2005)

At first i was a little dissapointed because the cd didnt have that upfront kick i was expecting. But after i lstend to it a few times, im very glad its the way it is. It truely shows how good they are, and that they can process an individual thought instead of everyone sounding the same all the time, it still has the feeling you want. Only close minded fools with lack of imagination hate this cd.

Anonymous (October 24, 2005)

I'm quite surprised...a bunch of metal-screamo-dudes actually wrote a really solid off-metal album that delves way beyond pop sensibilities...

It's metal progressions done more on a more ambient scale...it's not metal--its off-metal really, if I could characterzie it correctly.

I'm just shocked and awed by their versatility...

Cruz Bustamante
Lieutenant Governor
State of California

Anonymous (October 24, 2005)

I think this album SUCKS. It sounds like the guys in Thrice smoke some bud and listened to Isis and Neurosis while they wrote this

Anonymous (October 24, 2005)

I think this album rocks. It sounds like the guys in Thrice smoke some bud and listened to Isis and Neurosis while they wrote this.

Anonymous (October 22, 2005)

from the review
"Thatā??s something immediately noticeable on this album, is that the speed of previous Thrice efforts has been forgone for power and melody"

then
"Thrice is no longer about speed, or even power,"

Anonymous (October 22, 2005)

illusion of safety also sucked

Anonymous (October 21, 2005)

It's cool to hate thrice now, it's not a terrible album but it's below par for thrice. You can't tell me this band sucks, because they released Illusion of Safety. It's admirable for them to not release IOS part II and they have a track record for changing their sound slightly or greatly in this case over every album.

Wow. What a disappointing album. I'm glad Propaghandi came out the same day for my listening pleasure.

Anonymous (October 21, 2005)

green vandel i agree 100% with you,the thing is they do have ears and they do ahve brains its just that there head's are up there ass

Anonymous (October 21, 2005)

p.s. if you want to listen to the same shit over and over again try some shit band that just copies what they think is the best thing at that time all of thrice's cd's are uniqe and they continue to meet what i have begun to expect from them and that is great music

Anonymous (October 21, 2005)

bryan style especially and anyone else who has a negative comment about thrice's newest cd can go fuck yourself your the piece of shit if you can do better then i suggest you do so no one gives to shits what you think asshole

prankish definitely has alot of hatred towards thrice. I mean if i didn't like a band i would post one comment saying this cd isn't my thing but this kid keeps posting over and over the SAME THING. I guess he has to have the last word since he is the coolest kid

Anonymous (October 21, 2005)

Yes I made out with the drummer and I am a transgender mexican hooker.....

Anonymous (October 21, 2005)

ps-if i wanted to listen to experimental rock, id listen to pelican or isis. not this.

dear thrice,
play what your good at.

-bryan styles

Anonymous (October 21, 2005)

ANOTHER VICTIM OF ISLAND RECORDS.
I mean, this band used to be something special.
Kids please take note, this is the album you will write if you smoke alot of pot. not like im knocking that at all...but just realize, youll become lazy and so will your music.

-bryan styles

Anonymous (October 21, 2005)

There is not an epic on this album. An epic song cannot be 5 minutes long (way too short.) The album is okay but playing the spacy type material a lot reminds me of them trying to be like an older progressive rock band and than it just doesn't cut it. They can't be a prog band, their songs don't compare to those of the older prog bands in the 70s. They even stole a reference from Genesis' "The Musical Box." (Also note that Peter Gabriel, the lead singer for Genesis, is among Dustin's list on their website of recommended listenings.)

Anonymous (October 21, 2005)

Just wanted to point out the misspelling: "Vheissu"...it started out fine, but then the misspelling started and didn't end...

Anonymous (October 21, 2005)

Does anyone remember when Thrice rocked? I'm starting to forget. There are maybe 1 or 2 tracks that caught my attention, but the rest of it I feel lacked the creativity and energy they used to have. Illusion of Safety by far rocked them all. This album is the result of a band that got too comfortable

1. Vheissu
2. The Artist In The Ambulance
3. The Illusion Of Safety
4. Identity Crisis

Yes I thought Illusion Of Safety was only they're third best album. It's not the popular opinion, but I really don't care what you think. IMO, Vheissu was the most interesting (in the good sense) thing I've heard in years. Listened to it three times today, and i'll probably listen to it again. I love this band.

I would switch Vheissu and TAITA but that is pretty much how I feel

Anonymous (October 20, 2005)

I am a huge fan of Thrice and I would have to say they are defenitly close to tying for my #1 favorite. However.................the new CD is nothing close to what I expected. After buying all of Thrice's previous CDs, and especially after Artist in the Ambulance (which rocked) I would have to say the new CD is a complete digression of their capabilities. I am very disappointed and to top it all off I purchased the CD for $18 only to find out that it wasn't worth $4. THRICE...please for your sake and for the punk rock community go back to your roots, and stop with this slow, deep, "meaningful," so called music. I look forward to the next CD in hopes that you all redeem yourselves! Thank you-Melissa (Tampa, FL)

Anonymous (October 20, 2005)

How I rank the Thrice albums

1. Vheissu
2. The Artist In The Ambulance
3. The Illusion Of Safety
4. Identity Crisis

Yes I thought Illusion Of Safety was only they're third best album. It's not the popular opinion, but I really don't care what you think. IMO, Vheissu was the most interesting (in the good sense) thing I've heard in years. Listened to it three times today, and i'll probably listen to it again. I love this band.

Anonymous (October 20, 2005)

not bad, id rather listen to the old cds but its got some good songs

Anonymous (October 20, 2005)

Upon first listen, I was really taken a back by this. I expected something a little more aggressive. But by the end of the record, I was really starting to get into this more. I really didn't expect this type of experimentation.

Atlantic is amazing though, I think. That could be the best song they've ever done.

So when a undeground rock band has a "poppy" sound, I guess that means they are automatically popular? Defining pop is next to impossible...its one of those catch all terms. I usually just equate it with music that puts its highest emphasis on melody and...well being pretty.

Anonymous (October 20, 2005)

I never said Steve Osborne was not popular. What I said was that if they wanted to cash in they would've gone with the closest sounding genre to what they had previously sounded like (and what is currently popular in the rock genre) and therefore they would've gone with the other producer.

You label thrice as "pop screamo", you obviously don't their music all that well, or you just have shitty ears.

And I don't know this other producers name because the liner notes don't say his name.

Nowhere did I say pop music was inherently bad. U2 and Paul Oakenfold are bad, though that's still completely unrelated.

The argument was made that Thrice chose their producer from a vast field of two producers: one cashing in on the hard rock cow, the other notably less known. I am saying that he is NOT less known (particularly considering they cannot even NAME the rock producer, if he even exists) and their selection of producer does not give them any more artistic credibility.

DISCOTHEQUE, for fuck's sake. FUCKING DISCOTHEQUE.

C'mon, sing it. You at least know the chorus because it was drilled into your brain for the better part of a year. Thrice already tried their hand at the pop screamo bandwagon with "TAITA" and had mediocre results in a genre that has only gotten more competitive since then. Enter Vheissu.

"Osbourne produced U2's "Pop", for christ's sake. It didn't sell well because it was awful in spite of its efforts to incorporate, as you might guess from the title, more pop. You can thank this assclown for producing "Discotheque".

Paul Oakenfold is pop techno. About as pop as the Chemical Brothers, FSOL, and Daft Punk combined. As pop as Fatboy fucking Slim, for that matter."

And is playing pop music a crime? I dont see any problems there outside of you not liking a certain kind of music. Pop music is not the bane of humanity. Bjork is pop music and you dont get anymore experimental or whacked out then her. Just because you are pop doesnt mean you are "selling out". Its a style of music. Thrice always had pop in their sound. This is nothing new.

It is pretty obvious you just have a bias against this genre because of its manufactured mainstream products. There is good pop to. Condemning it all because of the mainstream acts you have heard makes about as much sense as damning all punk music because Good Charlotte and Story of the year get played on the radio.

Anonymous (October 20, 2005)

people used the term emaocore in the 80s? i didnt know that. what bands were considered emocore in the 80s?

"GreenVandal, emocore was originally what emo was called back when it came about in the 80s. However, since then the term has shifted to just being emo, which stands for emotional hardcore. Calling anything emocore today is stupid because a direct insertion of what emo is short for creates the genre "emotional hardcore hardcore." That's just dumb. Also, emo is most certainly real. Listen to Kite-Flying Society. They're a cool emo band."

I know these things but I still refuse to recognize "emo" as a genre of music. The Rites of Spring is often called a emo band (or scremo or whatever...) when all they were was a melodic hardcore band that didnt put up a tough guy front. Wouldnt they just be melodic hardcore or just straight up regular hardcore then? I fail to see how the lyrical content changes the genre. Many of the bands called emo today are just pop rock bands with whiny singers. Having a whiny singer doesnt make you a totally different genre, it just makes you a pop rock band with bad vocals.

I see emo as more of a aesthetic then anything. What determines if a band is emo? Two bands could have the exact same musical style but band A's singer sings like a hes an alternative rocker and the lyrics are about having fun and band B's singer sings like hes got a dick in his nose and the lyrics are about girls so suddenly band B is emo and band A is pop rock. This doesnt compute to me.

I do thank you for the definition though. Its not very often that someone actually trys to be helpful on this board. Usually it involves sarcasm or a insult somewhere...I know im more then guilty of that :D

Anyway, thanks! But i dont believe new genres should be created just because one singer is more emotional then the other. Its all hardcore and its all pop rock. And if there is no emotion behind it then it sucks to begin with.

I never heard Kite Flying Society, but I have been meaning to.

Anonymous (October 20, 2005)

You know what I find really funny? The same people who post about 'bands recycling sounds/ripping off insert band name here ' come on here and go 'where the hell is old Thrice? I want another Illusion of Safety! Sellouts!'.

Osbourne produced U2's "Pop", for christ's sake. It didn't sell well because it was awful in spite of its efforts to incorporate, as you might guess from the title, more pop. You can thank this assclown for producing "Discotheque".

Paul Oakenfold is pop techno. About as pop as the Chemical Brothers, FSOL, and Daft Punk combined. As pop as Fatboy fucking Slim, for that matter.

Anonymous (October 20, 2005)

I'm sure a band on "Epic" and "Island" records has the same money issues as a band on say "Pluto" or "Tribunal."

If an album does well, of course they make more money. But the costs of promoting, marketing, and producing an album are much much higher on major labels and the bands have to pay back the record companies before they recieve a cent. Besides bands on indie labels will split the net profits of a CD, while the standard for a band to recieve on a major is 10% (and then many expenses are taken out of that percentage).

Anonymous (October 20, 2005)

Osborne produced a u2 album that had dismal sales (by u2's standards) and sounded nothing like their other CDs. Paul Oakenfeld is in techno. If they were looking for a "hit" sound I don't think techno is that sound (which is popular, but from where thrice stand, techno is pretty fucking far).

The other producer is well known in the modern rock business, and if they were trying to go for what might be the next big record--which obviously, with their history, they know which approach they would've needed to take-- it would be much easier to go with the latter who has had multiple platinum records than to completely revamp their sound and try on something completely different.

Just like everyone else has said, the easiest audiences for them to go into would either be the pop punk audience or the [insert band that alternates screaming and singing with verse chorus verse form] audience. I don't know who this other producer is, but I would not be surprised if he is in one of these genres.

Emo isnt a real genre of music to begin with and now your just throwing a core on the end of it for some tidy little comparison!

Heres some news! Thrice was much more "emo" (if thats even a thing you can measure) on Identity Crisis and The Illusion of Safety, There were songs about girls on there. Remember Deadbolt? or that line on track 6 of TIOS where he says, "I want to write a perfect song, and play it just for you while you are tangled up in sleep, I need you more then I'll ever know...etc etc".

That sounds way more "emo" then this.

The fact is that everyone is just hurling random cliched insults. This is by far their LEAST whiny bullshit album of them all.

Do you have fucking ears? Or brains for that matter?" -Green Vandal

GreenVandal, emocore was originally what emo was called back when it came about in the 80s. However, since then the term has shifted to just being emo, which stands for emotional hardcore. Calling anything emocore today is stupid because a direct insertion of what emo is short for creates the genre "emotional hardcore hardcore." That's just dumb. Also, emo is most certainly real. Listen to Kite-Flying Society. They're a cool emo band.

How does selecting a producer of explicitly pop music at all go against anything I said?

Anonymous (October 20, 2005)

I'm sure a band on "Epic" and "Island" records has the same money issues as a band on say "Pluto" or "Tribunal."

Anonymous (October 20, 2005)

"What would there be to whine about?
Being signed to a "Major" label. I'm not exactly sure, but I doubt they have money issues.
The only thing they could possibly whine about is the fact that there are tons of kids complaining about their newly released album."

You do realize that on a major label, unless you go gold, you really don't make any money.

And to the guy talking about thrice selling out. This is straight from the liner notes of the CD (by Nick, the band's manager): Eventually the list was whittled down to two names: one producer who had innumerable platinum records under his belt and who undoubtedly could produce a "hit record" for them, and the other, Steve Osborne, an Englishman who'd never done a heavy record and who was known mostly for his work in electronic music and Brit Pop. Sensing that the first producer was more interested in hits than albums and that he couldn't see eye to eye with what they wanted out of this record, the band chose Steve. As they always have, they followed their hearts and chose the risk instead of the sure thing - a choice which has always made all of the difference.

Anonymous (October 20, 2005)

Let me start out by saying that Illusion of Safety was by far my favorite album. True, they have drastically changed directions on Vheissu, but I find it remarkably beautiful. I have other bands to satisfy my metal tastes now, i.e. As I Lay Dying, so Thrice doesn't need to fill that niche for me as much. I am extremely impressed with the thought put into this album and I can't find a song that I don't like right now.
For those of you saying this album is too radio friendly...WTF? Half of the stuff on Artist was way more poppy than anything on Vheissu. I couldn't even take a guess at what they're going to try and put on the radio because none of the songs are simple and stupid enough to catch the mainstream's ear. I may miss Teppei's wicked solos and Riley's double bass, but that is not what Thrice is about anymore. I see this as a huge step in the right direction for them. They are not metal/hardcore anymore, and I'm fine with that. I still appreciate what they make and I'm sure they will be even better in the future.

people say if an album has to grow on you that means it sucks. well i used to think like that but now that usually means its different then what your used to listening to. an album that you like right away means that you've heard it before and you can identify with the sound. When something sounds different thats not a bad thing (well most of the time)

Anonymous (October 20, 2005)

This band is really boring. There is far more interesting music out there and Thrice is not doing anything new.

Anonymous (October 19, 2005)

"This is by far their LEAST whiny bullshit album of them all."

What would there be to whine about?
Being signed to a "Major" label. I'm not exactly sure, but I doubt they have money issues.
The only thing they could possibly whine about is the fact that there are tons of kids complaining about their newly released album.

Emo isnt a real genre of music to begin with and now your just throwing a core on the end of it for some tidy little comparison!

Heres some news! Thrice was much more "emo" (if thats even a thing you can measure) on Identity Crisis and The Illusion of Safety, There were songs about girls on there. Remember Deadbolt? or that line on track 6 of TIOS where he says, "I want to write a perfect song, and play it just for you while you are tangled up in sleep, I need you more then I'll ever know...etc etc".

That sounds way more "emo" then this.

The fact is that everyone is just hurling random cliched insults. This is by far their LEAST whiny bullshit album of them all.

"Um, that's exactly what this album is. Increasing popularity, major label, a move to more mainstream type music...they are doing exactly what you say they are not. The new album is boring and is a slap in the face for all the fans who stuck with this garage band from CA and even made it possible for them to do stuff like this. Way to use your fans to stroke your ego, Dustin Kensrue."

Yeah, the new record is total mainstream sounding. Is it possible for people to be so fucking stupid?

Nor do any of the bands in on that soundtrack though. Especially not lame remixes of The Doors' songs.

I usually listen to Immortal Technique when I'm playing it.

Anonymous (October 19, 2005)

I don't think Thrice would sound good while playing Burnout 3.

Anonymous (October 19, 2005)

Yeah so the production sorta lacks, but brian mct. (their old producer) could NOT have made this record what it is now! I love this record so far but where are the fucking face melting solos tepp?!?!

Anonymous (October 19, 2005)

Has anyone including the reviewer even mentioned the drastic change in the production on this record compared to the two previous efforts with brian mectarran. The songs are arguably there on this record but the production sucks compared to the perfection of TAATA. The guitar tones suck in some places, you cant hear rileys drums in others and where the fuck is the bass on the first two songs?

Thanks guys, I forgot all about the punk rock rulebook that says what someone can and can't do with their own music.

Oi oi oi!

Anonymous (October 19, 2005)

Read through the lyrics on every record they have, and you'll find at least 75% of them are about Dustin's faith in some form. Some are more subtle than others, but for those of us who have similar feelings and struggles they hit home in a big way.

A personal favorite is Stare at the Sun, which is expressing doubt and confusion about his faith not "clicking" in the way he thinks it should, and he's searching for that one final answer or trick that makes it all fall into place.

Intelligent, introspective songs with some real meaning and passion are what this scene needs.. way better than the drivel a lot of these other screamo bands are whining about.

jesus chirst who cares if hes a christian and practices so are a lot of people, its not like hes writing relient k songs about the power of god or something. writing songs about 'faith' is different than religeous preaching. being inspired by god or your religeon is not the same as pushing it on someone or being preachy. i see nothing wrong w/ any of the lyrics, they're pretty much just universal lyrics about hope or overcoming something.

paul

Anonymous (October 19, 2005)

So because Dustin reads the bible and is able retell the story of peter betraying jesus, this is somehow related to how much he loves jesus and how christian he is?

have you read the thank yous in the liner notes? God is the first person Dustin thanks and I think everyone else in the band does as well. The first person in Teppei's thank you's are his parents(honor thy mother and father). but like I said, i don't care how christian they are. power to them for believing in something with passion. I just havent noticed it until reading the lyrics closely for this new album. I actually feel like they are promoting morality and untiy for all humanity more than one religion above all others.

thats what i meant, any band that has that sound cant sell out cause its already really popular. Maybe if thrice turned into like simple plan with extreme radio friendly songs maybe they could sell out.

The review says "In a genre criticized for the lack of diversity and artistic merit, Thrice have stood out as the one band not willing to compromise talent or ideas to write a record to "cash in quick.""

Um, that's exactly what this album is. Increasing popularity, major label, a move to more mainstream type music...they are doing exactly what you say they are not. The new album is boring and is a slap in the face for all the fans who stuck with this garage band from CA and even made it possible for them to do stuff like this. Way to use your fans to stroke your ego, Dustin Kensrue.

By the way, he is *not* the greatest songwriter of our time. People are quite liberal with that kind of praise and it needs to stop.

Anonymous (October 19, 2005)

"I hate thrice. They are talented musicians, i can't take that away from them, but i really don't like them. i would rather eat my own fart, than listen to them again."

thats not saying much. most people dont mind their own farts and eating one would essentially be just breathing it in. unless there is residue left on the underwear and you are saying you would lick that up...if thats the case you are a damn liar.

Anonymous (October 19, 2005)

I hate thrice. They are talented musicians, i can't take that away from them, but i really don't like them. i would rather eat my own fart, than listen to them again.

Anonymous (October 19, 2005)

Ummmm, Dustin is one of the most attractive men ever. So i love thrice.

Anonymous (October 19, 2005)

So because Dustin reads the bible and is able retell the story of peter betraying jesus, this is somehow related to how much he loves jesus and how christian he is?

Just because you read the bible doesn't make you emphatically religious. In fact, in a few interviews, it has been said that Dustin was questioning his faith in christianity.

any band that started out in the 'emo-core with metal influences' cant really sell out. Im glad they are finding there own sound even though its not entirely original. i enjoy this a little more then artist in the ambulance. If you base "selling out" by how much they scream.....well good for you. To me selling out would what liz phair did.

Anonymous (October 19, 2005)

This kinda reminds me of pig destroyer but with singing, no grind parts, and the addition of piano and stuff.

This is not selling out because it is not particuarly marketable. This has nothing to do with nu-metal because...well it isnt nu-metal. At all. No semblance to it. It is more like a conglomeration of atmospheric pop and ISIS. Like bjork and helmet making a baby. Or not. Im trying to make a drift here, you getting it? This isnt any of the stereotypes your pegging it as.

Emo? How is this emo? Most of the lyrics are attempting to be uplifting or contemplative. Not very much crying about relationships here. I am not finding any of these cliches you are calling out.

Radio music is simple. This is not. It relys on chugging and verse chorus verse chorus riffs. This does not. Lyrics are either about girls or fuckin shit up. This doesnt have those.

Thrice was trying to create soundscapes with this album. I'm not going to declare it a total success, but atmospheric songs that are over the 4 minute mark dont really sound like the most marketable thing in the world to me.

Are they pop music now? Well, yes. Yes they are. They are pop in the sense that many other great artists are pop, such as Modest Mouse, Bjork, or Sigur Ros. Im not saying they are as good as any of them, just that they are pop music as well and are obviously not trying to please anyone but themselves. If your going to compare this to something like story of the year then you are just hearing what you want to and not listening. Whether you like it or not is your own opinion, but declaring this album as a attempt at getting a radio hit is ridiculous. 2 songs on it could be played on the radio, and both are longer then modern formatting prefers.

They have been hinting at this change constantly. The pop element continued to grow from album to album and now it is in the front. This wasnt a drastic change.

I can see you hating the new direction but your accusations just dont make sense. This isnt watered down. Its a different. Its actually much more dense then their other stuff with lots of layers and such.

Your hating for all the wrong reasons. You dont like it. Awesome. Get over it. No reaosn to throw mindless insults.

Sorry I went on so long :P

Anonymous (October 19, 2005)

honestly, when did these guys become a christian band...not that it matters to me but its funny I never realized they were so into God.

Whats even funnier is that this band wrote identity crisis. Its like they started listening to other kinds of music and realized that there is other stuff out there. I feel like more of their influences come out on this record than should be heard. They don't even play any songs from identity crisis anymore. I don't advocate the use of the word sellout but fuck. I miss the old thrice. But then again there is never anything wrong with using organs. And these are some catchy ass songs, like everything else they've written. In two weeks everyone will have spacey synth lines stuck in their heads. right on.

Now, with a statement like that, you must have some kind of evidence, and it had better be better than "well, I heard from a dude who heard from a friend of his that used to pump gas with a guy who was the brother to Thrice's roadie".

But when you're gang banging teenage cheerleaders backstage with Chris Carrabba, I guess artistic integrity is really put into perspective.

Now, with a statement like that, you must have some kind of evidence, and it had better be better than "well, I heard from a dude who heard from a friend of his that used to pump gas with a guy who was the brother to Thrice's roadie".

But unless you do, quit fucking lying about a group that's worked their butts off to get where they are and have taken shit from people bigger and more important than you.

You sure claim to be able to discern a lot, but you can't discern the difference between me and Colin? Obviously not, as you keep lumpking us into one person. But nevermind.

Not that you had any credibility left after your immature 'emo' and 'sellout' tirades, but the fact that you went through both me and Colin's entire arguments, picked out random snippets, and tried to defend yourself from them is far beyond pathetic.

Speaking of, we get it, you're in college, you're 23. Yep, definitely sounds like the fast track to success to me. Oh, but who am I to talk? I made the decision on my major through an adolescent whim! I have no idea what I'd like to do in life, or how I'd like to travel down that career path. You've pegged me for sure. We also get it, you like Green Day and Modest Mouse, and you don't like The Casualties. Good thing you let us know 3 or 4 different times, gotta keep that internet cred in tact.

I assume you got beat up by somebody in a fraternity because you keep fucking mentioning them. It wasnt' a one time comment, fraternities somehow keep finding their way into your inane ramblings on Thrice and selling out.

The fact that I thought you were 14 alone should let you know how you come across. I'd say that speaks louder volumes than anything you've said thus far.

This album does try a bit too hard to be "epic". I knew what I would be in for when I read the band notes. It's cool of Thrice to throw in their little "behind the scenes" notes. I loved it on The Artist In The Ambulance, but this time... I mean, a two page story about the album by their manager? Come on. I already bought the album, they can stop trying to sell it. They're making an album, not re-writing the bible.

All that aside, after a solid listen all the way through on the commute home from work, some of the songs stuck with me. I loved The Earth Will Shake, Image of The Invisible, and the last two songs. The outro of For Miles was pretty cool too, it reminded me of a Hitchcock movie. But I'll have to side with most of the comments and say this album is pretty boring. The talent is there, but I just think they tried way too hard to sound different on this one and ended up having no sound to call their own.

Hrmm, I just decided to list the incorrect assumptions, fallacies of argument, and senselessly reiterated points you've made thus far:
"Thank you, Prankish, for reminding us all what an angry 14 year old punx rant sounds like."
--I'm 23.
"Really dude, 8th grade is not so bad."
--I'm a junior in college.
"Go pop in your Casualties record, fix your mowhawk, and up the punx."
--I hate the Casualties.
"You're the same kid who burned his Green Day shirts when they recorded "Time Of Your Life," and broke your Modest Mouse album's when you saw the video on MTV for "Float On."
--I like Green Day and GNFPWLBN was one of my favorites of 2004.
"What was the last time you heard Godsmack use any piano?"
--The song "Asleep."
"Define "sell-out" for me."
--I did. A band changing their sound for the sole reason of selling records. What exactly was your definition, just out of curiousity?
"How many people over 20 do you really even know, like 3? I can't imagine an 8th grader honestly knowing too many kids in college."
--Considering I am 23 and in college, quite a few.
"I'd probably guess you got picke don a little bit by some guys in one."
--Yes, because everyone who dislikes frat boys was surely beaten up by them.
"And how is any of this pop punk?"
--It isn't. Pop punk was never mentioned.
"so if you're trying to say that being your age and in an institute of "higher education" proves your intellect"
--I'm not, and never did. You did, though.
"the fact that you're using repetition and unnecessary capitalization and excessive exclamation points"
--Repitition? Anything similar to your 5 insinuations about my age? Also, I'm sorry that the single exclamation point I used in the last 6 posts was excessive.
"you want to form an intellectual arguement that picks at the diction and ideologies behind the statements whoever you are debating is making"
--You actually read this statement as you typed it, right? You should follow your own advice.
Anyhoo, that about wraps up the flame war for me. It was cute, though... that part where you tried to cite the rules of debate.

Anonymous (October 18, 2005)

This is too weird. I let most of these people on here try to convince me that this new Thrice cd was gonna be horrible. I bought this cd today with the lowest expectations I've ever had for a cd I actually bought.

WHEN AM I EVER GOING TO LEARN TO STOP LISTENING TO PEOPLE ON HERE??

This cd is great. It's not punk or anything close to punk at all but I wasn't expecting that. I guess the fact that I already knew it wasn't going to be punk let me truly appreciate the true beauty of this album.

I listened to it while driving through Malibu Canyon today and that was some kind of experience. So what I'm telling people on here is please don't let these morons influence into thinking this cd is crap. Go out and listen to it yourself before you decide. And another thing, do not listen to this cd while driving 70 mph in the fast lane. You won't be able to appreciate it that way.

I might be in the extreme minority of what I'm about to say but I'm going to say it............I like this cd better than Artist in the Ambulance.

Illusion of Safety is my favorite followed by Identity Crisis. This new album is not comparable to their first two because it's just way too different.

Anonymous (October 18, 2005)

"In a genre criticized for the lack of diversity and artistic merit, Thrice have stood out as the one band not willing to compromise talent or ideas to write a record to "cash in quick." "

Actually, I brought up my age in order to correct 3/4ths of your consistently incorrect assumptions. Once again, I explained that verbatim in my previous post but your college degree obviously wasn't in English. Every response you strain to conjure tries to goad me into some kind of name calling, though the only insult seemed able to reiterate (over, and over, and over) is that I was younger than you. I am not. So, one more time because I know you have trouble reading: now that 3/4ths of what you have said has been deemed wrong, I can move along.

Am I supposed to be insulted because you graduated at 22? I'm not following you here. Some people actually make an effort to explore the world before committing to a major. This is actually my first year back to college in nearly 5 years, and this is something I would encourge anyone and everyone to do. As result, I have complete confidence in the career path I'm interested in following instead of winging it off an adolescent whim.

I sincerely doubt Dustin is going to write a 64 page booklet that says "Hey guys, we watered down our sound so 16 year olds would buy our CDs." Part of selling records is maintaining some kind of facade of credibility. Even Good Charolette fights the 'sellout' label.

Why is it unlikely that Thrice is actively making music to sell out and become radio friendly, and how again is that related to charity? I am not the one that voiced the issue of charity as some means of artistic credibility. If somehow you think the two things are related, I again point you to U2.

I'm not writing a disertation here, I'm yelling at idiots on the internet. I could say your spelling errors and lack of grammar suggest you could stand to go back to college for a while, but I actually discern between arguing on the internet and formal debate. In your first paragraph, you try suggesting I'm dumb for bringing up that I was in college, but in the same breath you cite your graduation and use it as a means of intellectual comparisson (recycling that very same material later in your post, to boot). If anyone isn't particularly versed in debate, I'd have to say it's you.

this conversation the two of you are having is pathetic. can't u just accept that u have a difference of opinion?!?! neither of u know what thrice's motivations are for this change of direction, whether it be to make more sales or just to progress as musicians. fact is WE DON'T KNOW, so i don't really understand u guys getting into this argument over presumptions both of u are making, probably unfairly. why don't we just let the music speak for itself and let everyone have his/her own opinion about it. i don't really see the need, or for that matter the purpose of petty bickering and insulting.

Trying to discredit me with random age insults doesn't change the fact that Thrice makes bad music. Not that it matters in the area of realizing Thrice is garbage, but I am 23 years old and a junior in college. Now that 3/4ths of your nonsensical slanderous rambling is even more irrelevant than before (if that is possible), I'll continue.

wow, you're 23 and a junior in college? i'm 22 and i've already graduated. so if you're trying to say that being your age and in an institute of "higher education" proves your intellect, well for fuck's sake i must be smarter than you, right? i mean, i did already graduate. but then again, i still listen to the illuion of safety, so maybe something's wrong with me.

What do you mean I can't give them shit about changing formats for marketability? That's EXACTLY what I'm doing because that's exactly what Thrice is doing. I'll use another cliche word that I'm sure will piss you off as much as me calling Thrice a sellout: EMO. Crying a fucking river of tears. And a PIANO?!? HOLY SHIT, THRICE IS REALLY BREAKING NEW GROUND! I can't wait to hear them on the Monster Ballads 6 compilation.

go read what dustin wrote on thrice.net, or read the lyric booklet (which is 64 pages). they did this because it felt natural to them and they like the sound they produced. so they changed, bands do that, i wish they didn't but they did. it's surely not emo, and i doubt they think a piano is groundbreaking. i doubt they even think this album is groundbreaking. i just think they like it, or else they wouldn't have put them out. if they wanted to satisfy fans they would, and probably could, have put out illusion 2. but they didn't.

U2 donates to plenty of charity and I'm not fucking listening to them any time soon.

the charity has nothing to do with their music, it does however have something to do with their character. it's doubtful that a band like thrice is actively trying to sell out or actively trying to produce music that is radio friendly.

But when you're gang banging teenage cheerleaders backstage with Chris Carrabba, I guess artistic integrity is really put into perspective.

idiotic nonsense like that discredits your entire arguement. maybe you haven't learned this yet, by the age of 23 and being a whole junior in college, but usually when you debate, you want to form an intellectual arguement that picks at the diction and ideologies behind the statements whoever you are debating is making. the fact that you're using repetition and unnecessary capitalization and excessive exclamation points to prove your point means that you probably don't possess the vocabulary to articulate what you're trying to say.

that, or you really don't have much to say at all, and you're just overall pissy because a band didn't do exactly as you wished.

Trying to discredit me with random age insults doesn't change the fact that Thrice makes bad music. Not that it matters in the area of realizing Thrice is garbage, but I am 23 years old and a junior in college. Now that 3/4ths of your nonsensical slanderous rambling is even more irrelevant than before (if that is possible), I'll continue.

What do you mean I can't give them shit about changing formats for marketability? That's EXACTLY what I'm doing because that's exactly what Thrice is doing. I'll use another cliche word that I'm sure will piss you off as much as me calling Thrice a sellout: EMO. Crying a fucking river of tears. And a PIANO?!? HOLY SHIT, THRICE IS REALLY BREAKING NEW GROUND! I can't wait to hear them on the Monster Ballads 6 compilation.

U2 donates to plenty of charity and I'm not fucking listening to them any time soon.

But when you're gang banging teenage cheerleaders backstage with Chris Carrabba, I guess artistic integrity is really put into perspective.

1) You said radio pop, I misread as pop punk, but more or less same idea.

2) "You want a definition of sell-out? Thrice is your definition." No, jackass, THAT'S an immature definition of selling out. Don't give me shit about them changing formats because they want to be more marketable, either. And as other people touched on, this is a hell of a lot less marketable than "All That's Left" or "Stare At The Sun." Do you know what Thrice wants? Do you know why Thrice makes music? Oh, my bad, you're all knowing, which includes the motives of bands and why they make the music they do. Pardon my oversight.

3) If you think Thrice sounds anything like Staind, you're a bigger moron than I was originally estimating. They're not "hiding" anything with keyboards, they don't even use keyboards. The use of vibes and piano fits the moods and atmosphere's of the songs, it's not some two keystroke bullshit like Godsmack used.

4) How many people over 20 do you really even know, like 3? I can't imagine an 8th grader honestly knowing too many kids in college. Either way, if you did know people over 20 that liked them, you wouldn't admit it anyhow, as it would hurt your own argument. If I want insincere music, I'll go listen to Avenged Sevenfold or some shit, who I'm sure you're all about.

5) Nobody said philanthropy disproves them actually getting a, but it does say they're not greedy, and are willing to help the less fortunate. I can't imagine Thrice are financially that well off, yet they still contribute, when plenty of actors and athletes make millions and don't.

6) What's wrong with beer bongs? Nothing. It's not like I'm sitting here bragging about drinking or saying, "YO DUDE I JUST TOOK THE SICKEST FUNNEL BRO." And with your contempt for fraternities, I'd probably guess you got picke don a little bit by some guys in one. But you know, if some guys in Sig Ep somewhere wherever you live are douchebags, it definitely means guys in TKE in New York are the same way. Every guy in a fraternity is exactly the same.

You're a fucking clown, just quit.

Anonymous (October 18, 2005)

This album has to be some kind of joke.

Anonymous (October 18, 2005)

I cannot stand Thrice...everytime I hear them I tend to throw up in my mouth a bit.

Anonymous (October 18, 2005)

I know prankish, his real name is tom. He is 13 years old and he just started to get into "real" music. when the first thrice album came out when he was like 8, he thought it was like the heaviest shit out there, heavier then like DEP. He thought he was a bad ass and wore is thrice shirts all over the place which replaced his matchbox 20 shirts. Now fast forward to the future and now he just hit his teen years and he now knows everything about indie bands (he can name check modest mouse, even though he first started to listen to them when they were on mtv). Trust me on this, this kid knows what he is talking about. He is a music god. I can even rewrite that sentence to say that Prankish is music, he embodies the spirit of everything musical.

Anonymous (October 18, 2005)

Agreed, this album is less marketable than TAITA.
I hear lots of ISIS riffs

- Shakey

Anonymous (October 18, 2005)

I wanted to like this CD. It doesn't rock like artist in the ambulance or illusion of safety. disappointing so far. Maybe it will grow on me.

Anonymous (October 18, 2005)

"The only band that sold out harder than these fucks is Rise Against. THIS IS RADIO POP"
to prankish:
there older stuff was so much more easier to market, they were pretty scene even if they didn't try to be. Just because they lose a little bit of there metal-core feel that everyone is dying over these days, they are sellouts.

Modest mouse was on fucking MTV!!! trl shit for like months and you call that the best album of 2004. Im sorry to say that if it is on mtv then it is RADIO POP. You sound like a real douche bag (there is nothing wrong with being a douche bag, i have relatives that are ones too).

1. Who said anything about pop punk? I have no idea what you're talking about.

2. A band changing their sound for the sole reason of selling records is an "immature definition of sellout"? I call that a textbook definition of sellout. Selling out doesn't mean you're played BY the masses, it means you play FOR the masses. You're not going to hear "That Hideous Strength" on the radio any time soon, so they changed to "The Artist in the Ambulance." Voila. Problem solved. They've taken even more of a step in that direction with this album: DIGESTABILITY.

3. Yes, they are FAKE NU METAL. I pretty thoroughly explained that. Hiding it with keyboards doesn't change a god damned thing, they are the next Staind. Their music is engineered; it is now a science of balancing genre rules with record sales. By the way, 3 seconds on google found me a Godsmack song that uses a piano: "Asleep".

4. I don't know any intelligent human beings over the age of 20 that enjoy this band. Maybe you just enjoy insincere, diluted music. That's your gig. Is it so unfathomable to think you've been duped? Keep screaming "immature" at anyone who questions the motives (and subsequent products) of a band you like, it's really working for you.

5. How does philanthropy disprove the size of their paychecks? To my experience, rich people have plenty of money to donate to charity.

But seriously, just go hit the beer bong bro. Then we can go FUCK SOME SHIT UP IN THE MOSH PIT! Sigma Alpha Epsilon for life, ya hurd?

Anonymous (October 18, 2005)

Well, care or not here's my two sense... After listening to this album for the last couple days it has yet to grow on me. Yes there are parts which I enjoy but I feel this album doesn't showcase the talent that Thrice has. I miss the intricate, crazy guitar lines... All the songs just sound way too similar... I fell letdown..

Anonymous (October 18, 2005)

i dont think most of the people who commented have even listened to this album...It is incredible, from a huge fan of Illusion of safety, this album is completely different but its amazing, musically, lyrically, conceptually, everything props on a band actually successfully changing their sound

Anonymous (October 18, 2005)

I don't know. I always figured alterna-metal to be kind of for the Slipknot kids...

This band sucks.

Maybe they are "great dudes," but this has nothing to do with anything in my music world.

thrice has always donated money from album sales to charities. they've consistently shown they're not in it for the money, they're in it for the purity of the music and while they're doing what they're doing they try and help others. they're a band of good guys who happened to grow in a new direction than a lot (including me) would prefer.

sure, this album is not what i think they should have done; like almostpunkenough, i wanted an illuison of safety 2, just pushing the boundaries they set on that record farther. maybe i don't get what i want but it's not my fucking band. and i surely will not call these guys sellouts now. they've been on a major for awhile, and "artist" is far more of a commercially marketable album and has many more radio friendly tracks.

just because you don't like an album doesn't mean the band sold out. i hated the new coheed and cambria, but i don't think they sold out, i just think they grew away from why i initially liked "second stage turbine blade." thrice has never been in it for the radio play, the arena tours or the groupies. and unless you can prove otherwise, please unplug your computer and throw it out the window, because all it does is make you come off as a totally ignorant piece of shit.

Well thanks for that mature definition of selling out, glad to see that you have a foot to stand on.

Every point you try and make is just further driving the point home that you don't know what in the fuck you're talking about. Do you know what 'pseduo' means? I'd venture by your description that you don't. Fake, Thrice is 'fake nu metal?' Besides that not making sense, (nor does the pop punk comparison) it doesn't even make sense. What was the last time you heard Godsmack use any piano or vibraphone? How many Thrice songs stay in drop-D for the entire duration and follow verse-chorus-verse, while recycling amongst itself cliches about pain and suffering?

And how is any of this pop punk? It's not bouncy, it's not "catchy," it's not following any 3 or 4 chord formulas. Oh, you're way off base again? I'd never have guessed.

Like I said, I don't give a shit whether you like this band, review, album, or anything else, but if you're going to make the kind of idiot statements you do, I'm going to call you on them every fucking time. Stop posting.

Anonymous (October 18, 2005)

They dont even have radio play yet, and the sellouts start already. Doesn't anyone understand that they'll LOSE sales because of the new direction?

You want a definition of sell-out? Thrice is your definition. People overusing the term doesn't make it any less real. Stereotypes exist because there are true to life examples to set them. Thrice is that stereotype.

Pseudo Nu Metal is just what the name would imply. They are marketing to the Nu Metal crowd who have grown tired of hearing the same Disturbed song with 5 different titles.

Thrice's changing sound has nothing to do with higher production values, better musicianship, or artistic maturity. It has to do with record sales. If you hadn't spent so many adolescent nights beating off to Illusion of Safety thinking "Someone finally understands my pain!" you might be able to see that.

I hate the Casualties.

I still love Green Day.

Good News For People Who Love Bad News was one of the best albums of 2004.

Anonymous (October 18, 2005)

I won't pay more than $7.99 for this...and judging from this reaction, I don't think I'll ever have to.

Thank you, Prankish, for reminding us all what an angry 14 year old punx rant sounds like. Really dude, 8th grade is not so bad.

That said, who the fuck do you think you are? I've never talked to Thrice, so I won't sit here and tell you about their DIY ideals or how true they are to fans, but fuck you for your presumptious fucking attitude. I don't give a shit if you like the new direction or not, but if you can tell me with a straight face, that this is radio pop akin to Good Charlotte and Simple Plan, than you're one hell of a liar.

First off, you said it's radio pop, then in the same sentence, it's psuedo nu metal? What the fuck is psuedo nu metal? Stop pulling shit out of your ass, and aligning it with your fraternity stereotypes is just as fucking stupid.

Nobody here is even discussing the principles they do or do not have, and why is it that you feel that you know what their principles should be? This is beside the fact that you instantly lost any semblance of credibility when you called a band "sell-outs." Define "sell-out" for me. Who are you to say what kind of changes in music constitute selling out?

You're the worst kind of music fan. If you don't like their new direction, fine, understandable, but you're the kind of presumptious prick who thinks they've got it allll figured out. You're the same kid who burned his Green Day shirts when they recorded "Time Of Your Life," and broke your Modest Mouse album's when you saw the video on MTV for "Float On." Kids like you will never really appreciate music for what it is, you're too busy worrying about your 'cred', and making sure bands don't 'sell out,' and they 'stay true to their principles,' since you seem to know them so well.

Go pop in your Casualties record, fix your mowhawk, and up the punx.

Anonymous (October 18, 2005)

i bet the people who get pissed when artists change their sound are the same people that are pissed that pennywise puts out the same record every year and a half

Anonymous (October 18, 2005)

"
"This is definetly one of the first solid reviews I've read on punknews in awhile. I was excited by the fact that i actually had to scroll to read the whole thing."

you must have never read my reviews"

I'm also excited about paragraphs that are more than three sentences. Some of us DID get past sophmore english.

What the fuck is wrong with you kids? Why is it so hard to admit you were WRONG about a band's principles? I loved Thrice. I loved Rise Against. I thought they'd both be making killer fucking tracks until the end of days. I WAS WRONG. WE WERE FUCKING DUPED. SNAP THE FUCK OUT OF IT. I've heard of fanboy bias, but when did you kids go deaf? This shit is fucking awful. It belongs on the Burnout 3 soundtrack right next to Rise Against.

The lyrics could've been written by an angsty 14 year old, though I'd wager it was an MTV executive. I could give a flying fuck if a band gets airtime on any mainstream media outlet they desire, but Thrice COMPLETELY reinvented themselves to suit pop music. They're not changing their sound, they're not fucking EVOLVING; they're cashing a fat fucking paycheck and laughing all the way to the bank.

I don't care if these douchebags talked to you once after a show and they were the "REALIST MOTHERFUCKERS IN ROCK AND ROLL, OMG YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW". Just fucking give it up, already. There is so much good music out there right now, guys. Seriously. It's time to move on.

I wasn't sure if I was going to buy this or not, but the packaging sorta sold me on it.

The deluxe edition (although it comes in a damn Digipack) has a HUGE booklet about the record.

- Kirby

Anonymous (October 18, 2005)

i just went over to thrice's myspace page and saw that "if we could only see us now" has a parental advisory. why??? i haven't seen it, but can only assume it's in road footage or whatever. just sorta surprising, since there's virtually no cursing in their music.

yeah. i mean "like moths to flame" is just a retelling of peter's betrayal of jesus if i'm not mistaken. i know dustin has relied on literature to heavily impact his lyrics, which is always fine, i just wish on this record it wasn't as... well, literal.

his poetic nature of writing seems to be lost as he's concentrating more on standard rhyme schemes and by-the-book lyrical hooks. and i know i got bashed for my little rant about underoath (ironically at a thrice show), but this is the most preachy album thrice has done to date. while the idea of faith is laced throughout each of their discs, a method i really enjoyed because it was up for interpretation, this one seems more straightforward, which not only loses some fun in listening, but also makes me wonder where lines like "my hands are shaking from fear / white from clutching my pride / red from cutting you / and blue from telling lies" ever went.

Anonymous (October 18, 2005)

thrice FUCKING SUCKS NOW!! there old CDs were so much better from like 3 or 4 years ago! They sound just like every other little sucky punk band!

Anonymous (October 18, 2005)

Dustin's Christianity is undeniable on this record...like it or not.

Anonymous (October 18, 2005)

Seriously, how do you pronounce "Vheissu" ? Does it sounds something like ummm "Gay" ?

This album is very solid. It doesnt make me shit my pants like 'illusion of safety' did, but theres a lot ot take into consideration....#1, illusion came out in early 2002, before the market was saturated w/ metalcore, emocore, mallcore, peepeeheadcore bands...#2 i was 21 and had different standards for music and such and was in a totally different area of my life.

this is a more mature thrice. some might say its boring because its slower and lacks the metal riffs. some may say its too 'emo' or something gay like that because of songs like 'atlantic' which is lighter than anything they've done.

I personally love it. the soundscapes, dustins voice, the atmospheres. 'the earth will shake's prison yard gang vocals, music box's clever melody, red sky's key shift into the outro, image of the invisible's power and when the snare comes in accenting each of dustins words, the dark tone of 'between the end and where we lie' the building power of 'for miles'. its all amazing. only tracks 8,9 and 10 don't do for me what hte rest does so i guess you could say theres a slight lull towards the end, but i felt the same about 'artist in the ambulance'.

in many ways its their best album, but its the classic 'if you change you suck cuz i loved yoru sound' vs. 'bands that dont change their sound and evolve suffer pennywise syndrome'.

This review was pretty good, but hereā??s how I would make it better:
1. Theyā??re walking down a road lined with gold? Is there a Tin-Man there, or how about the Scarecrow?
2. When the reviewer was listening to this album did they do so while watching The Wizard of Oz muted?
3. On weed?
4. Or how about watching it with Blues Brothers 2000?

Anonymous (October 18, 2005)

they never were hardcore in my opinion, but that doesnt matter in the end, its boring

Anonymous (October 18, 2005)

shitty stuff ...oh and everybody comes up with "Expand your ears, be toleant etc. when it comes to boring shit like this

all you people crying over their lost 'edge' are scared of change.
this album is a great rock album. nothing less, nothing more. you cant expect them to make illusion x2 or artist x2.
go get some cutips and allow your ears to expand a little more.

Anonymous (October 18, 2005)

thrice are so shitty...in 2 years they will be forgotten...thrice what a waste of time

Anonymous (October 18, 2005)

They don't like hardcore and they don't like emo. read any recent interview with them - I applaud them

i'm as guilty as anyone of bitching when bands just make the same album again and again, so that being said, i'm a fucking hypocrite, and i wish they would make Illusion of Safey 2 more than anyone.

Anonymous (October 18, 2005)

Not terrible, but too overproduced, too pretentious and too much like modern major-label hard rock for my taste. Why couldn't they just make another Illusion of safety?

Anonymous (October 18, 2005)

I think it's a huge improvement, but I never liked any of their old stuff. Thank god the dude is singing more and shouting less on this album.

- The Lindbergh Baby

Anonymous (October 18, 2005)

i almost cried when i heard the entire album. fucking devastated. simply put, have lost the hardcore edge they had on past releases, no speed, no aggression, no power. its as if they wanted to write a record to be let down by, the speed of the wole thing is depressing. this album is a progression yes, but hell, is progression for the sake of progression truly helpful, or is it just a new way to say the same old shit worse. Thrice had their own sound, if you heard one of their songs, you would no who it was, even in the muddled up industry today. Theyve lost that. But i guess all major label HC bands have to produce something mainstream everynow and the ie H20 and go. ive just been seriously let down by this release.

Anonymous (October 18, 2005)

I know IĀ“m a minority but I think that Thrice is boring

Anonymous (October 18, 2005)

Its cliche but this album will grow on you and you will not be able to stop listening to it. There is far more heaviness than would you initially judge. Dust of Nations is amazing, Hold Fast Hope could be their best full out heavy song to date, and if you liked Stare at the Sun you'll love "between the end and where we lie". This disc isn't as big of a departure as everyone thinks it is, it could easily be TAITA part two just bigger, and more thoughtful.

Anonymous (October 18, 2005)

Yeah, I'll be picking up the new Propagandhi, With Honor and Satanic Surfers albums before this...but I will buy it...maybe.

A couple of songs bore me on here and some songs have this weird deftones kinda vibe to them (i think "like moths to flame" is the one im thinking of....just the way he sings the chorus. Or I could be thinking of a different song. Their is one though!)

Ummm...point...point...what was the point....

oh.

This is really good and really different form their other stuff. Very atmospheric. Music you can chill to. I never thought I would say that about Thrice.

I was a little skeptical and figured the album had to suck because it was being pushed so hard. It reminded me of a really bad "blockbuster" summer movie where they market it like crazy for a big opening weekend because they know the word-of-mouth will kill it.

But with the exception of "Image of the Invisible," which I found fairly uninteresting, the rest of the album is really good. I'm glad they've decided to try some new things and get all literary.

(Now, since Eggers has got them reading Pynchon, I wonder if he'll introduce them to Donald Bartheleme who is a complete genius. If he does, the next album will sound like John Zorn)

jones the bones, you are my favorite poster. That myspace comment is fucking gold.

Anyways, is anyone getting a Frodus vibe from this record? I always thought Thrice kinda sounded like "And we washed our weapons in the sea." But now they went ahead and added keyboards and abient noise stuff. I dunno, that's pretty cool.

i tried to get into this band back when they had that first album and it wasn't happening. then i tried again when the second album came out, wasn't happening. i never heard the last one and will probably never bother hearing this.

for a major label band getting some commercial airplay, this is about as good as it gets. You won't find anything better today on your tv or airwaves. However, compared to many of the bands in the underground doing similar things, this is all-in-all weak sauce. Good review dude, probably one of your most balanced and fair.

Their worst album, which means it's still better than at least 68 percent of music being made today. Does grow on you though, so we'll see how I feel about it a few months down the line...

i agree 100% with that.

i think they've expanded their sound but they just aren't that good at expanding their sound. the songs that are 'epic' are really just 'long' and get 'boring' sometimes. illusion of safety makes me want to push "repeat" on every song on the disc, because it's so filled with energy and passion. this, i can see the intellectual and artistic merit of it, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's enjoyable.

More or less, pro or regression is all on the listener. Now, this is a release focused a lot more on atmosphere, which is something they dealt with a little on TAITA. You'd call some of the songs on TIOS "epic," where as I wouldn't make that leap.

I'd say Thrice expanded their sound, and regardless of whether or not people think it's "better" or "worse," it's still artistic progression to me.

i guess my question is... is this progression? just because they haven't explored it, doesn't mean it's anything new. sure it's a new sound for them, but is it one that should have been done to begin with?

i dunno. if you go from illusion of safety, which had more epic songs in 2 minutes than most of this tries to in 5.... it seems more like regression (objectively speaking). sure anything is "progress" just because, well, it's the next step. but, like "artist" was a step backwards or two... i think this is just one up on that release. some of these songs are just boring, and dustin's voice isn't nearly as good when he's not screaming.

For your information Anchors, I know all about pressure. When I was 15, my band had a bit of a "hit" (like 35 plays in one day on mp3.com...) with a song about lesbians that I wrote. The pressure to follow up was so great that I never wrote another song for that band. True fucking story.

i prefer illusion of safety, still... this one is somewhat boring. thrice has already been groundbreaking, that's what illusion was. i'd rather see them try and push the idea of short songs with good non-verse-chorus-verse structure farther than get into this. i gave it a 7, but for thrice i think it's more a 6.